GWM Haval H6

One of Great Wall Motor’s (GWM) highly sought-after models, the new Haval H6, upgraded for the year 2025 and launched in Malaysia.

A Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), the C-segment contender (mid-size SUV) underpins a multi-mode petrol-electric hybrid system (ICE, electric, series-parallel hybrid).

Locally assembled (CKD – Melaka), available via GWM Malaysia is one variant (H6 HEV Ultra – MYR 139,800).

Price (OTR, w/o insurance) covers vehicle (seven years/200,000 KM), engine (10 years/1,000,000 KM), HEV battery (10 years/1,000,000 KM) and HEV system (eight years/1,000,000 KM) warranties.

Exterior colours (single-tone: Energy Green, Ayers Silver, Crayon Grey, Sun Black, Hamilton White). Interior colours (single-tone: Phantom Black – dual-tone: Black-Cream).

Installed is a 10.25-Inch colour TFT LCD fully digital driver display (floating-mounted – instrument cluster) with a Windscreen-Head-Up Display (W-HUD).

Features are vehicle telematics, Bluetooth, navigation, voice recognition and customisable interface (drive mode dependent).

Sturdy, comfortable and plush, the interior sees leather upholstery in two colour schemes (single-tone: Phantom Black – dual-tone: Black-Cream).

The front gets electric-powered (driver-six-way-adjust, passenger-four-way-adjust, driver-two-way-lumbar, driver-passenger-ventilation) ergonomic seats. 

The rear gets a manual-operated (Boss Switch: front-passenger-shoulder-mount-adjust, 60:40 split-flat-fold) bolstered bench (three-seater).

Included are armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out), headrests (front, rear) and a panoramic sunroof (electric – open/tilt/slide, sunshade).

Practical storage spaces. E.g., glove box, partitioned/caverned/under-stowage centre console compartments and seat back/side door pockets.

Provided are four cup holders (two – front, rear) and four bottle holders (one – side doors).

Incorporated are one 12 V power socket (front), four USB ports (two – front, rear) and a wireless charger (front).

Robustly sleek, it exudes a dynamic and sporty exterior emphasised by solidly flowing contours and cleanly cut lines.

The front-end sees a sculpted bonnet, muscular quarter panels (raised fenders), a large grille (‘Star Matrix’: geometric pin insert, Haval emblem) and a roundly angular bumper (centre-vented, geometric pin insert).

Accentuations, body clad (Black: bumper, fenders, side sills), body trims (Black: side mirror arms, window surrounds, roof rails – Black-Chrome: grille, fog lamp surrounds, bumper lip, side sills – Chrome: Haval emblem).

The side mirrors (dual-tone – Black-body-colour) are electric-powered (auto-fold, adjust), with sequential turn signals (LED) and blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Detection – BSD).

Mounted are ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes. 

Drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system and a regenerative braking system (One-Pedal Driving: adjustable).

The new H6 features a comprehensive suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Secondary Collision Mitigation (SCM), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Roll Over Mitigation (RMI), Low Speed Emergency Braking (LSEB), Automatic Integration Parking (AIP), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Intelligent Cruise Assistance (ICA), Intelligent Cornering (IC), Front Collision Warning (FCW) with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Centre Keeping (LCK), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Rear Cross Traffic Braking (RCTA) with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), Wisdom Dodge System (WDS), Automated Parking System (APS), Auto Reversing Assistance (ARA), Drive Monitoring system (DMS) and Speed Alarm.

Others include Around-View Monitor (AVM – 360-degree camera, transparent chassis), High Beam Assist (HBA), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill-Start Assist (HAC), Hill-Descent Control (HDC), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold.

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front-sides, front-rear curtains), seat belts (pretensioners, anchors, reminders), ISOFIX (two – outer-rear-seats), parking sensors (six – front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), side mirrors (BSD), impact beams, door ajar warning, automatic headlamps (On/Off/cornering, high beam), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, collision-unlock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent) and anti-theft system (security alarm, immobiliser).

Multiple drive modes enabled (STANDARD, SPORT, ECO, SNOW).

Entertainment is channelled via a standard system (eight speakers).

The new H6 nestles a hybrid (HEV) powertrain (automatic switching multi-mode petrol-electric hybrid: ICE, electric, series-parallel hybrid).

Embedded is a (GW4B15D) 1.5-Litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve turbocharged direct-injection DOHC with VVT petrol engine (148 HP/110 KW, 230 NM), and a (TZ220X) transmission-integrated (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission – DHT) electric motor (Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor – PMSM: 95 KW/128 HP, 300 NM).

Total system output (240 HP/179 KW, 530 NM).

Power is transmitted to the front wheels, via a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) system. 

0 to 100 KM/H acceleration is done in 7.7 seconds (Launch Control). Top speed is 175 KM/H.

The fuel tank is at 61-Litre capacity, and the combined fuel consumption reads at 5.8 L/100 KM. Juicing-up the e-motor is a Lithium-Ion battery pack (1.69 KWH).

The new H6 features these conveniences. 

E.g., Smart Entry system (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button, remote engine start: key fob), electric-tailgate (handsfree – remote/key fob, kick-sensor, tailgate button), dual-zone automatic climate control (rear air vents, negative-ion air-cleaner) system, electric-powered (driver-six-way-adjust, passenger-four-way-adjust, driver-two-way-lumbar, driver-passenger-ventilation) ergonomic seats (front), manual-operated (Boss Switch: front-passenger-shoulder-mount-adjust, 60:40 split-flat-fold) bolstered bench (rear – three-seater), armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out), headrests (front, rear, panoramic sunroof (electric – open/tilt/slide, sunshade), partitioned/caverned/under-stowage centre console compartments, steering wheel (multi-function, column adjustments, EPS), interior illumination (LED: cabin/boot/ambient), charging outlets (wireless charger, power socket, USBs), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, parking sensors (six – front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), side mirrors (BSD), door ajar warning, automatic headlamps (On/Off/cornering, high beam), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, collision-unlock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), electric windows (one-touch-lift, anti-pinch) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Propping-up the chassis is a suspension setup of MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear).

The SUV is comfortably spacious, safe and suitable as a daily driver. The ride quality is firm and well-balanced, with a smooth engine power and transmission delivery. 

Good sound insulation, covering the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects well. The cabin experience is refined, alienated from most of the outside noises.

The new Haval H6 exudes a solidly sporty and an electrifyingly elegant outlook. A sleekly dynamic design that features seamlessly cut body contours.

Interior-wise, its ergonomically airy and premium featured layout provides a sense of comfort and easy connectivity to the occupants.

Ultimately, inside and out the build quality is satisfactory, and with its electrifying character, the new H6 is truly a contender in its segment.